Sabah - a short journal

Day 01 - 1st April 2009

Really excited for the long holiday. Ibu have been gradually packing since last week. Ibu is really meticulous in making sure all important things are not forgotten esp those of Kakak & Adik's, such as powder milk, diapers, proper clothings, and stock-up on all possible medicines, etc.

Pick-up MokSu (read: NenekSu) from Kajang Komuter station that night for the journey.
Too bad Khadeeja's not feeling well with a slight fever.

Waking up as early as 4am to catch the 6.50am flight to Kota Kinabalu. The taxi was rather pantual.

9.30am, safely arrived @ KK and were pick-uped by our tourist guide in two vans to accomadate 10 adults & 4 kids.

We were taken around KK before stop for lunch to nonya flavoured meals and check-into our hotel at Marina Court Resort Condominium, a 3 rooms and 2 bathrooms condominium with room service.

The time is the same as Semenanjung, but the sun shines an hour early. So, 6.30pm is already Maghrib and our subuh would be at 5am and 7am is already too bright!!

Day 02 - To Manukan Island.

Have to get-up early When you have 10 adults & 4 kids queueing for the bathrooms, and the boats will leave @ 8am. Just 30-40 minutes boat ride from the jetty to Manukan Island, the weather is good.

Had a great time at the island esp the kids, and the food's great! It's hard to concentrate on your photography when there're two kids to look after. But that's family all about, susah senang sama-sama. Adik is still feverish and kakak with her mood swing. But managed to wander-off looking for photography opportunity as much as possible.

Had diner, sent Ibu and the kids to the hotel and Went out again to the Pasar Malam opposite the street of Pasar Philipine. Heaven for Pearl enthusiast. Almost similar merchandise but of different creativity, quality, and get the cheapest price by bargining hard and buy alot at one place. They might throw-ins some freebies.

Do compare them to the merchandises sold at Pasar Philipine. The price might be slightly higher though but being displayed behind a glass container does fool ones eyes. Bila dah terlalu banyak, mata jadi rambang so do look for UNIQUE pieces for yourself and those love ones.

Day 03 - To Kundasang

Had breakfast and then off to 2-3 hours journey to Kundasang for a glimpse of the mighty Mount Kinabalu. Stop by for sourvenirs then to the Muzium Sabah, had lunch at Rainforest Cafe and hot spring bath at Poring. Those with steady feet can try the Canopy Walk.

Many little chapel at almost every kampung along the way to and fro Kundasang, not a custom panorama for those from semenanjung.

Stop by at the infamous Tamparuli bridge on the way back and finally after 3 days here in Sabah we get to hear the live call for prayer, the AZAN. Rasa syahdu, coz the past few days we only heard it on national TV that is an hour selepas waktu.

Wrap-up the day with a juicy delicious lobster for diner on Ibu. Such an expensive diner, TQ so much sayang!!

And if you order Teh Ais you might get Teh-O-Ais no matter how many time you re-order. So say "Teh Tarik with Ice" to the waiter.

Day 04 - Free n easy 01

Our tour guide service ends yesterday, so it's free and easy session exploring KK on our own. Ibu is busy attending to feverish khadeeja these past few days and doesn't really enjoying herself on the vacation. Although Khadeeja's been good throughout the vacation but still not quite playful and cheerful as she has always been.

Take Ibu and the kids to Pasar Philipine. Really hot day and took the stroller with us coz Kakak is still with her unpredictable mood swing. But the walkways in the pasar are just too narrow for the stroller to pass-by, so had a quick shopping and the take Ibu and the kids on a private tour to Plaza Warisan and take a free-bus-ride-laju-giller-macam-nak-race-cilok-sana-sini to 1Borneo shopping complex. But do queue up and book the FREE bus tickets at a bus stop infront of Plaza Warisan. AND yes it's an ordinary shopping complex like u can find abundance in KL.

Take Kakak to the pool in the evening as she swims her heart out.

At nite take Ibu the the Pasar Malam after the kids asleep and let her do her pearly shopping, not for herself but as sourvenirs for cikgu-cikgu kakak n adik.

Day 05 - Free n easy 02

Wake-up early and march on foot to Pasar Gaya (sunday market), 15-20 minutes walk from oru hotel OR you can flagdown a taxi for about RM9.00. Lots of unique thing to see and lots of people. You can find Sabah traditional delicacies and handicraft here.

Leave Ibu and the kids in the hotel and went shopping at Pasar Philipine with NenekSu, Mama, Papa Imi & Kak Aida in the evening. Seriously rambang mata. Managed to get something unique & exclusive for Mak (read: Nenek Midah), adik beradik & anak2sedara di kampung.

After Maghrib take ibu and the kids to Pasar Basah / Makanan near Pasar Philipine for a round of FRESH BBQ seafood with ulam mangga muda cicah air asam perah limau...
slurpppppppppppppppppp perghhh sehingga menjilat jari. It is recommended to come around 5-6pm as the peddlers start BBQing around that time, so it's fresh. But it's better to come after maghrib's prayer as you can take your time enjoying the moment. AND you can also bargain / ask for discounts on the seafoods.

Day 06 - The last day

This will be the last day in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Kinda sad leaving those free-n-easy-like-nothing-else-matter life.

The tour vans pick us up around 7am and send us to KK Airport after a quick breakfast of Nasi Lemak. Board the plane at 10am after 15-20 minutes delay and arrived at LCCT around 1pm.

That completes our journey to Sabah. So where's next?? Bali, Bandung, China, Gold Coast, London, Paris??

INFO: more guide / info on Sabah for your travelling needs.